A beauty therapist who was forced to flee a drug-crazed burglar has been left stunned by plans to open a support centre for addicts above her salon.

Karen Harrison said she has suffered a string of attacks and thefts at her business, the Beauty Spot, in Hambletonian Yard, Stockton.

Last year, drug addict Lee Nutley was jailed at Teesside Crown Court for ransacking the salon.

Miss Harrison, who had gone to check on her business, fled after seeing the intruder, who was rifling through her handbag.

Nutley, 31, of Headlam Court, Stockton, was jailed for two years after admitting burglary and the attempted burglary of a house in Bishopton Road, Stockton.

"It took me two years to get over the burglary. I just kept re-living it over and over again," said Miss Harrison.

"I'll never forget the look on his face - he was completely out of it.

"I've suffered enough from these people," she added.

"The burglary was bad enough but we seem to be having more and more problems with addicts around here.

"On the day we received the letter telling us about these plans, we had an addict in the salon trying to steal things."

Miss Harrison, 46, has spent 11 years building up her clientele but said the centre could ruin her business.

She said the small yard is totally unsuitable for the centre, which would provide support services for people affected by substance misuse, crime, homelessness, anti-social behaviour, domestic violence and social deprivation.

"The salon is up an alleyway and there's no room to move about," she said.

"The centre will bring more addicts into the area and my customers are going to come face to face with these people.

"It'll be terrifying.

"They just cannot do this. I haven't slept for weeks. If this centre goes ahead I don't know what I'll do.

"It'll make my life a living hell."

A spokeswoman for the Crime Reduction Initiatives, which has applied for planning permission for the centre, said: "We work in partnership with agencies including the police, probation service and local authorities and always take great care to maintain positive community relationships.

"Our core aim is to prevent crime and provide opportunities for people to make permanent, positive changes to their lives, and we are looking to do this in Stockton-on-Tees."

The plans are due to go before Stockton Council's planning committee in the coming weeks.